On Aug 11, 2025, a gunman who falsely believed that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were dangerous went on a shooting rampage at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) main campus, shattering 150 windows and tragically killing a 33-year-old CDC security officer. Staff, still reeling from firings and programmatic shifts that began with the new administration, were deeply traumatised. 8 months later, the windows have not been repaired. The CDC was once the gold standard for public health leadership. Today, it is struggling to maintain scientific excellence, trustworthiness, and relevance, a result of the actions of the Trump administration and the US Department of Health and Human Services that have undermined the agency. 80% of the CDC’s highest positions are vacant, with directors of 20 out of 25 centres having left. An estimated 2000 staff, almost one in five, have been fired, and about 300 are on administrative leave. There is still no CDC director since Susan Monarez was fired less than 1 month into her appointment in August, 2025 because she refused to pre-approve vaccine recommendations and to fire career scientists.